extraordinaire
Americanadjective
Usage
What does extraordinaire mean? Extraordinaire is an adjective that means “outstanding” or “remarkable.” It is always used after the noun it describes, as in a writer extraordinaire. Extraordinaire is most commonly used to describe a person with exceptional talent. Unlike most English adjectives, extraordinaire is used postpositively, meaning it must immediately follow the noun that it describes. Example: My grandmother makes the most delicious dishes, and my whole family considers her a chef extraordinaire.
Explanation
The informal adjective extraordinaire is a great way to describe someone who does something particularly well. You might describe your sister as a dog trainer extraordinaire, for example. If you know people who are truly outstanding at what they do, you might want to use extraordinaire when you talk about them. You could mention your neighbor, the cupcake baker extraordinaire, or your uncle who's an amateur magician extraordinaire. In either case, you're emphasizing how good they are at their particular talents. Extraordinaire is a French word that means "extraordinary, unusual, or out of the ordinary," and it's been used as a superlative in English since the 1940's.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On Saturday came sad news that Palmerston, a black-and-white cat, once mouser to the Foreign Office and "Diplocat extraordinaire", had passed away in Bermuda where he retired in 2020.
From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026
The critically well-liked if small-scaled film was directed by none other than Shakespeare-interpreter extraordinaire Kenneth Branagh.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025
Grace now has a bench named after her on the finish line with a a plaque that says "Grace's Bench, Park runner extraordinaire".
From BBC • Aug. 16, 2025
Jay Gatsby — self-made enigma, party host extraordinaire and talk of the summer season in West Egg, Long Island — doesn’t carry his insecurities lightly.
From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2024
Of course, Joe understood immediately that this dynamite had not just fallen from heaven in order to increase the personal wealth and power of Joe Mondragon, all-around handyman and bean farmer par extraordinaire.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
